Academic literature on the topic 'Montana. Family Services Program'

This article describes how the Blackfeet Head Start Program in north-central Montana utilized professional to train local residents as screeners and home trainers. The training is structured to provide specific intervention strategies and family support. The numbers of handicapped children and their families who receive services has increased as a result of using local home trainers and teachers as direct care providers.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families’ perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.

Data has been gathered by the Family Aide Projects Association from family aide services throughout the State of Victoria to enable policy and program decision making within the family aide program to be better informed. The 52 member agencies were canvassed to generate information which gives a more comprehensive picture of the operation of services than previously available. This paper presents a summary of the survey process and outcome.

This study aimed at assessing the family's perspective on a family care program to better understand the challenges and potential capacities for changing the health care model. A qualitative study was carried out to assess the Family Health Program in the city of São Sebastião, Brasília, Brazil. Data was collected through direct systematic observations of the workflow developed by the program's team, and through focal groups with family members. The discourse of the collective subject was used in data analysis and showed that health prevention and promotion actions and the relationship between providers and consumers were positively evaluated while access to health services, drugs and providers was negatively evaluated. There is no assurance of comprehensive and continuous care to the family, which points to the need of reviewing the strategies of health service organization for more effective involvement of the community to meet their health needs.

Family planning to spacing or planning the number and distance of pregnancies using contraception. Data on active family planning participants based on the type of contraception at the Pasie Raya Community Health Center in 2019 was 39.4%, there was no increase in the coverage of active KB participants based on the type of contraception in 2018 of 49.4%. The aim is to find out what are the factors that influence the use of family planning program services for women in the working area of ​​the Pasie Raya Community Health Center. This type of research is a combination research (mixed methods research) combining or combining quantitative methods and qualitative methods with Accidental Sampling sampling techniques on 90 samples and 5 informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression tests. The results of the study showed the influence of knowledge, information sources, culture, family support and support from health workers on the utilization of family planning program services. Based on the multivariate analysis, the support variable for health workers is the dominant variable, while the results of the qualitative analysis on key informants and supporters can be concluded that women have taken advantage of the Kb service program, but most of the women do not understand and understand the benefits that are obtained from the family planning program. The conclusion from the health workers is very important in the utilization of family planning program services. It is recommended that the Health Office conduct more evaluations of family planning services at the Puskesmas. It is necessary to improve the quality of Kb services by including health workers in training.

The Regional Intervention Program represents a pioneering approach to the delivery of community-based family-centered services. Parents of young children with behavioral disorders and/or developmental delays serve as primary therapists for their children, as principal trainers of other parents, and as daily operators of the service delivery system. Founded in 1969 in Nashville, Tennessee, the current Regional Intervention Program network is composed of 21 certified programs in 13 communities in the United States and Brazil. The conceptual framework that guided initial program design and selected elements of the program model are discussed.

This article describes the results of a parenting program “Apoyo Personal y Familiar,” (APF; Personal and Family Support program) targeted at parents of families at high psychosocial risk. APF aims at preventing unnecessary placement of children from vulnerable families into foster-care by increasing parental competence in order to improve their autonomous functioning. The program is implemented through group meetings in community centers. The method involves exposing the parents to parental views and practices in specific child-rearing episodes and encouraging them to reflect on their own views and the consequences on child development. In the Intervention group 144 mothers completed the pretest and posttest measures and 155 mothers were in a waiting-list comparison group. Self-report measures on parental implicit theories, child-rearing practices, and personal agency were used to perform the evaluation. Group discourse and the monitor's behavior observed during the sessions were used as predictors of the program's efficacy. Compared to control mothers, program mothers endorsed less simple views on child development, reported positive changes in their child-rearing practices, and had more confidence in their personal resources and a more accurate view of their parental role. Group effect sizes on the outcome measures were predicted by the type of group discourse and the type of group management observed during the sessions. The use of a perspectivist discourse was positive for promoting complex ideas and actions, whereas a self-centered discourse was positive for improving personal agency and for reporting less use of permissive practices. The role of the monitor was particularly relevant for reinforcing the mothers' sense of confidence in their own resources and for facilitating changes in child-rearing tactics.

This paper reports a survey of 21 Intensive Family Services programs, members of the Intensive Family Services National Practice Symposium. The survey was designed to elicit a ‘snapshot’ of program models, operational issues and policy matters within these services, in order to consolidate some understanding of the evolution of Intensive Family Preservation Services since the developments of the early 1990s.

Intensive in-home services is a family-centered, strength-based intervention program offering comprehensive treatment that includes family therapy, mental health treatment and parenting skills for caregivers, development of positive social systems, and assistance with accessing community resources for long-term support (Youth Villages, 2013b). Framed on family system theory, Intensive-In Home Services (IIHS) was developed from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Social Development, and Crisis Intervention models as a means to modify behaviors that place youth at risk for out-of-home placement. The socio-historical development of these models is examined in the literature review. Intensive in-home services is a family-centered, strength-based intervention program offering comprehensive treatment that includes family therapy, mental health treatment and parenting skills for caregivers, development of positive social systems, and assistance with accessing community resources for long-term support (Youth Villages, 2013b). Framed on family system theory, Intensive-In Home Services (IIHS) was developed from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Social Development, and Crisis Intervention models as a means to modify behaviors that place youth at risk for out-of-home placement. The socio-historical development of these models is examined in the literature review. The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors that may influence outcome measures of a youth’s inclination to remain in the home after having received IIHS treatment. The significant predictors were determined to be age, race, and total length of service received. The study sampled 3,131 youth ages birth through 17 who received IIHS services in Tennessee over a 10-year period and were discharged from July 2001 to July 2010. The study was limited to youth designated under Comprehensive Child and Family Treatment (CCFT), which is classified as part of TennCare coverage. The primary goal of CCFT is to empower families to monitor and manage mental health needs and high-risk youth behaviors in order to provide permanency and longterm stability in the natural home environment (UnitedHealthcare, 2012).

The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has improved medical documentation in terms of accuracy, team communication, and ease of ordering tests and prescriptions; however, charting in an EHR strains the provider/patient relationship and contributes to physician burnout. Medical scribes are a promising potential solution to these problems. Our study aims to demonstrate that implementation of scribes into a medical residency program positively affects provider/patient satisfaction and improves quality and efficiency of EHR documentation. Our study evaluated the effectiveness and utility of scribes in a residency training program utilizing the established implementation framework “RE-AIM,” or Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation (quality), and Maintenance. During the study’s initial “Training Phase,” 11 first and second-year Family Medicine residents conducted scribe-facilitated patient visits. Patient and provider satisfaction ratings were collected, note quality was evaluated, and time to note closure was measured. During the subsequent “Choice Phase,” residents were given the option of whether to utilize scribes, and the same data measures were collected. Resident satisfaction ratings during the Training Phase showed an average score of 6.03 (on a 1-7 scale where “7” = “strongly agree” with positive statements), and a pilot sample of 9 patients showed an average patient satisfaction rating of 4.77 (on a 1-5 scale where “5” = “strongly agree” with positive statements). Scribe-facilitated notes coded for quality had an average score of 3.375 (on a 1-5 scale where 5 is “extremely” high quality). Finally, residents’ average time to note closure was decreased by more than 8 hours in scribe-facilitated visits. During the Choice Phase, all 11 participating residents requested scribe-facilitated visits, again with very high patient satisfaction scores (4.67 on a 1-5 scale) as well as high clinician satisfaction scores (6.06 on a 1-7 scale). Choice Phase note quality and note-closure time are currently being assessed. These results demonstrate that scribes improve clinician and patient satisfaction, as well as quality and efficiency of EHR documentation. Limitations include a small sample size of clinicians and patients. Further research is needed with larger sample sizes to determine whether scribes in a medical residency program represent a sustainable and effective intervention.

Home visits are a required training component of many Family Medicine residency programs in the United States. However, they are becoming less popular due to such factors as increasing resident responsibilities, decreasing reimbursement, and a decline in resident intention to incorporate home visits into future practice. This study’s aims are: (1) to evaluate the current practices of one Family Medicine residency training program’s time and resource expenditure to conduct home visits, and (2) to evaluate resident and faculty experiences of home visits. Residents and faculty in a Family Medicine training program were provided with a 12- question survey immediately after completing a home visit. A total of 19 surveys from residents and faculty were collected and analyzed. Average reported time spent per home visit was 90 minutes (range = 50-180 minutes), and the home visit teams included an average of 4 members (range = 2-6 members). The providers felt that they knew their patients and the patients’ circumstances better after the home visit with a score of 4.1 (on a 1-5 scale with 5 being a positively framed statement). Resident opinions were neutral (average score 3.1 on a 1-5 scale) regarding whether they found home visits to be educational to their residency training in Family Medicine. Residents also had mixed feelings (average score 2.9) regarding whether they would perform more home visits during their residency training if given the opportunity. Most faculty members (5/7) indicated they had done home visits during their residency training and all faculty (7/7) felt that home visits added value to their training in Family Medicine. Finally, qualitative recommendations were collected from respondents which may allow this training program to improve home visits in the future. Overall, significant time is currently being spent conducting home visits, with a difference in perceived efficacy between residents and faculty. Future research may include a cost analysis to quantify financial value, as well as expanding data collection to other Family Medicine residency training programs to improve generalizability.

Across Canada, the percentage of First Nations children in care of child welfare authorities is estimated to be six times that of the general population (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Volume 3: Gathering Strength, 1996). Research into the impact of removing children from their homes due to child welfare issues has contributed to our understanding of the significant negative consequences on both the child and family (Bowlby, 1982; Johnson, 1983; Olsen, 1982). Further studies into the impact of government policies on Native people have clearly demonstrated that Native children face additional trauma; not only is the child removed from their home, they are removed from their community and culture (Andres, 1981; Bagley, 1985; Hudson, 1981; Johnston, 1983; Richard, 1989).

Abstract This chapter examines the Croatian Government’s policies for Croats abroad with a focus on social protection. The history of Croatian diaspora-homeland engagement over a century culminating in the establishment of the independent state of Croatia in 1991, informs the prioritization of Croats abroad in the social policy landscape. In addition to outlining the diaspora and consular infrastructures, culture and education policies, the protection of Croats abroad in the areas of health, employment, pensions and family-related benefits is reviewed. The findings of this analysis reveal that while the Croatian government continues to profess its commitment to providing a comprehensive program of social protection for Croats abroad, policies guaranteeing substantive social protection are mainly found in those (primarily post-Yugoslav) states where Croatia has negotiated bilateral agreements for Croats identified as a minority. The provision of protection for Croats abroad in general therefore falls somewhat short in so far as a robust, concrete set of measures are concerned.

AbstractRussia’s diaspora policies target a broad category of compatriots including both Russian nationals residing abroad and non-nationals with Soviet background, which are estimated at around 30 million people. Russian nationals abroad constitute about 1/5 of all compatriots residing abroad. Diaspora-related legislation and institutional framework are focused on compatriots living in former Soviet republics, so-called ‘Near Abroad’. Until 2006, diaspora policies addressed primarily cultural and language support of Russian-speaking compatriots abroad. In 2007, to compensate for the natural population decline, Russian authorities launched the State Program for Assisting Compatriots Residing Abroad in Their Voluntary Resettlement in the Russian Federation. Meanwhile, after 2010, the outflow of Russian nationals for permanent residence abroad increased. Between 2011 and 2017, the estimated 2.7 million people left the country to live somewhere beyond former Soviet republics. Russian citizens residing abroad have a right to pension benefits, one family-related benefit, and free access to public health services on the territory of Russia. Russian nationals permanently residing in the so-called ‘Far Abroad’ have been mostly beyond the outreach of the Russian authorities. Legislative initiatives targeting specifically this category of compatriots are rare, and often associated with control mechanisms rather than support measures.

Chapter 6 of Practice Research in the Human Services: A University-Agency Partnership Model describes practice research efforts in the area of welfare-to-work services. One major project used semistructured interviews to investigate the perspectives of employers participating in county administered subsidized employment programs. A second project examined the Family Stabilization program, which provides intensive, whole-family focused services to participants in CalWORKs (California’s TANF [Temporary Aid to Needy Families] program) experiencing destabilizing crises. The Family Stabilization project involved three phases, using a combination of interviews and focus groups to examine: (1) policy implementation decisions and strategies, (2) client perspectives on service experiences, and (3) worker perspectives on program services and client engagement. The chapter concludes with practice research principles related to developing practice-relevant literature reviews, ensuring flexibility and timeliness with respect to study procedures and results, and strengthening dissemination and utilization among agency practitioners.

In this chapter, Montana State University librarians share how they have expanded efforts to reach out to and provide equitable instruction services for its online graduate students, a population often underserved. After piloting a synchronous, online instruction program using web conferencing, librarians surveyed a targeted graduate program to determine if underserved students became more efficient researchers as a result of library instruction participation via web conferencing and if they are now taking fuller advantage of library resources and services. Students and faculty surveyed were positive about the newly created connection to the MSU community. However, findings revealed that many online graduate students work in research environments lacking the breadth and depth of resources they need. Further, many lack a connection to the MSU community and do not know that their institution's library resources are available to them. This discovery means that academic libraries should strengthen activities designed to build community among online students.

In this chapter, Montana State University librarians share how they have expanded efforts to reach out to and provide equitable instruction services for its online graduate students, a population often underserved. After piloting a synchronous, online instruction program using web conferencing, librarians surveyed a targeted graduate program to determine if underserved students became more efficient researchers as a result of library instruction participation via web conferencing and if they are now taking fuller advantage of library resources and services. Students and faculty surveyed were positive about the newly created connection to the MSU community. However, findings revealed that many online graduate students work in research environments lacking the breadth and depth of resources they need. Further, many lack a connection to the MSU community and do not know that their institution's library resources are available to them. This discovery means that academic libraries should strengthen activities designed to build community among online students.

This chapter lays the groundwork for the book’s use of the Crow Reservation in Montana as an extended case study. After providing an overview of Crow history to the late nineteenth century, the chapter sketches the parameters of a Crow birthing culture that prevailed in the decades surrounding the turn of the twentieth century. Crow women navigated pregnancy and childbirth within female generational networks; viewed childbirth as a sex-segregated social process; and placed their trust in the midwifery services of older women. The chapter further explores government employees’ attitudes toward and interventions in Indigenous pregnancy, childbirth, and especially family life in these years, as these ostensibly private domains emerged as touchstones in the federal government’s ongoing assimilation efforts.

ABSTRACT Background: The Family Hope Program through the Family Development Session (FDS) provides social services on maternal and child health. Social cognitive theory (SCT) may explain how family development session family hope program affects to the integrated health post (posyandu) visit) and child nutrional status. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the FDS Family Hope Program on the child nutritional status. Subjects and Method: This was an analytic observational study with cohort retrospective design. The study was conducted at the integrated health posts, in January 2020. The dependent variable was child nutritional status. The independent variables were family development session, maternal education, family income, social support, maternal knowledge, self-efficacy, complementary feeding, and integrated health post visit. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by a multiple linier regression. Results: Child nutritional status was positively associated with FDS participation (b= 1.12; 95% CI= 1.31 to 7.15; p= 0.010), high maternal education (b= 0.92; 95% CI= 1.09 to 5.83; p= 0.031), high family income (b= 0.96; 95% CI= 1.14 to 6.00; p= 0.023), strong social support (b= 1.24; 95% CI= 1.34 to 7.85; p= 0.009), high maternal knowledge (b= 1.24; 95% CI= 1.50 to 7.96; p= 0.004), high self efficacy (b= 0.92; 95% CI= 1.09 to 5.76; p= 0.030), appropriate complementary feeding (b= 0.96; 95% CI= 1.15 to 6.02; p= 0.023), and active integrated health post visit (b= 1.03; 95% CI= 1.15 to 6.90; p= 0.024). Conclusion: Child nutritional status is positively associated with FDS participation, high maternal education, high family income, strong social support, high maternal knowledge, high self efficacy, appropriate complementary feeding, and integrated health post visit. Keywords: child nutritional status, family development session, integrated health post visit Correspondence: Nisaus Zakiyah. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java. Email: nizakiyaah@gmail.com. Mobile: +6285235948995. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.03.106

Aim/Purpose: This research paper reports on the evaluation of a mental health self-management program provided to immigrant nurses working at various rural South Australian aged care services. Background: The residential aged care staffing crisis is severe in rural areas. To improve immigrant nurses’ employment experiences, a mental health self-management program was developed and conducted in rural and regional health care services in South Australia. Methodology: A mixed approach of pre- and post-surveys and post workshop focus groups was utilized with the objectives of exploring the experiences of 25 immigrant nurses and the impact of the mental health program. Feminist standpoint theory was used to interpret the qualitative data. Contribution: A new learning environment was created for immigrant nurses to learn about the theory and practice of maintaining and promoting mental health. Findings: Statistical tests showed a marked difference in responses before and after the intervention, especially regarding knowledge of mental health. The results of this study indicated that a change in thinking was triggered, followed by a change in behaviour enabling participants to undertake self-management strategies. Recommendations for Practitioners: Include expanding the workshops to cover more health care practitioners. Recommendations for Researchers: Feminist researchers must actively listen and examine their own beliefs and those of others to create knowledge. Extending the program to metropolitan areas and examining differences in data. E technology such as zoom, skype or virtual classrooms could be used. Impact on Society: The new awareness and knowledge would be beneficial in the family and community because issues at work can impact on the ability to care for the family, and there are often problems around family separation. Future Research: Extending the research to include men and staff of metropolitan aged care facilities.

ABSTRACT Background: The chronic disease management program (prolanis) was established in Indonesia to help people achieve optimal quality of life with cost-effective and efficient health services. The user targets were national health insurance participants who suffer from chronic disease, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of prolanis in improving “CERDIK” healthy behavior for hypertensive patients. Subjects and Method: A cross sectional study was carried out at 25 community health centers in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from January to February 2020. A sample of 200 hypertensive patients were selected by stratified random sampling. The dependent variable was healthy behavior. The independent variables were sex, education, family support, peer support, and prolanis. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by a multiple logistic regression run on Stata 13. Results: Healthy behavior in patients with hypertension increased with (b= 1.95; 95% CI= 0.76 to 3.16; p= 0.001), participative in prolanis (b= 3.93; 95% CI= 2.42 to 5.44; p<0.001), strong family support (b= 1.38; 95% CI= 0.09 to 2.67; p= 0.035), strong peer support (b= 0.50; 95% CI= -0.81 to 1.91; p= 0.427), and female (b= 0.89; 95% CI= -0.35 to 2.13; p=0.160). Community health center had contextual effect on healthy behavior with ICC= 27%. Conclusion: Healthy behavior in patients with hypertension increases with high education, participative in prolanis, strong family support, strong peer support, and female. Community health center has contextual effect on healthy behavior. Keywords: chronic disease management program, cerdik health behavior, hypertension. Correspondence: Tri Puji Pangesti. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java. Email: tripujipangesti8@gmail.com. Mobile: 082312657779. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.04.44

ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies expected that postpartum depression may occur from multiple hormonal–biological, psychological, familial, social, and cultural factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of traditional care and biopsychosocial determinants on the risk of postpartum depression. Subjects and Method: A cross sectional study was carried out at 25 birth delivery services in Sleman, Yogyakarta, from August to September 2019. A sample of 200 postpartum mothers was selected by multistage random sampling. The dependent variable was postpartum depression. The independent variables were sectio cesarean complication during labor, age, traditional birth delivery, education, family income, parity, unwanted pregnancy, and marriage satisfaction. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed by a multiple logistic regression. Results: The risk of postpartum depression increased with sectio cesarean (b= 2.54; 95% CI= 1.40 to 3.67; p<0.001), complication during labor (b= 3.13; 95% CI= 2.03 to 4.22; p<0.001), and age ≥35 years old (b= 0.67; 95% CI= -0.26 to 1.62; p= 0.160). The risk of postpartum depression decreased with traditional birth delivery (b= -0.99; 95% CI= -1.93 to -0.05; p=0.037), education ≥Senior high school (b= -1.75; 95% CI= -3.13 to -0.38; p= 0.012), family income ≥Rp 1,701,000 (b= -3.14; 95% CI= -4.38 to -1.90; p<0.001), multiparous (b= -1.14; 95% CI= -2.14 to -0.14; p= 0.024), wanted pregnancy (b= -2.39; 95% CI= -3.78 to -0.99; p=0.001), and marriage satisfaction (b= -1.18; 95% CI= -2.15 to -0.20; p= 0.018). Conclusion: The risk of postpartum depression increases with section cesarean, complication during labor, and age ≥35 years old. The risk of postpartum depression decreases with traditional birth delivery, education ≥Senior high school, family income ≥Rp 1,701,000, multiparous, wanted pregnancy, and marriage satisfaction. Keywords: postpartum depression, biopsychosocial, traditional birth delivery care Correspondence: Selvia Febrianti. Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Email: selvia.febri11@gmail.com. Mobile: +628115939211 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/the7thicph.03.86

Aim/Purpose: This paper provides the results of the preliminary analysis of the findings of an ongoing study that seeks to examine the social media use, cultural and political awareness, civic engagement, issue prioritization, and social activism of Gen Z students enrolled at four different institutional types located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The aim of this study is to look at the group as a whole as well as compare findings across populations. The institutional types under consideration include a mid-sized majority serving or otherwise referred to as a traditionally white institution (TWI) located in a small coastal city on the Atlantic Ocean, a small Historically Black University (HBCU) located in a rural area, a large community college located in a county that is a mixture of rural and suburban and which sits on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and graduating high school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs in a large urban area. This exploration is purposed to examine the behaviors and expectations of Gen Z students within a representative American region during a time of tremendous turmoil and civil unrest in the United States. Background: Over 74 million strong, Gen Z makes up almost one-quarter of the U.S. population. They already outnumber any current living generation and are the first true digital natives. Born after 1996 and through 2012, they are known for their short attention spans and heightened ability to multi-task. Raised in the age of the smart phone, they have been tethered to digital devices from a young age with most having the preponderance of their childhood milestones commemorated online. Often called Zoomers, they are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation and are on track to be the most well-educated generation in history. Gen Zers in the United States have been found in the research to be progressive and pro-government and viewing increasing racial and ethnic diversity as positive change. Finally, they are less likely to hold xenophobic beliefs such as the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority that have been popular with by prior generations. The United States has been in a period of social and civil unrest in recent years with concerns over systematic racism, rampant inequalities, political polarization, xenophobia, police violence, sexual assault and harassment, and the growing epidemic of gun violence. Anxieties stirred by the COVID-19 pandemic further compounded these issues resulting in a powder keg explosion occurring throughout the summer of 2020 and leading well into 2021. As a result, the United States has deteriorated significantly in the Civil Unrest Index falling from 91st to 34th. The vitriol, polarization, protests, murders, and shootings have all occurred during Gen Z’s formative years, and the limited research available indicates that it has shaped their values and political views. Methodology: The Mid-Atlantic region is a portion of the United States that exists as the overlap between the northeastern and southeastern portions of the country. It includes the nation’s capital, as well as large urban centers, small cities, suburbs, and rural enclaves. It is one of the most socially, economically, racially, and culturally diverse parts of the United States and is often referred to as the “typically American region.” An electronic survey was administered to students from 2019 through 2021 attending a high school dual enrollment program, a minority serving institution, a majority serving institution, and a community college all located within the larger mid-Atlantic region. The survey included a combination of multiple response, Likert scaled, dichotomous, open ended, and ordinal questions. It was developed in the Survey Monkey system and reviewed by several content and methodological experts in order to examine bias, vagueness, or potential semantic problems. Finally, the survey was pilot tested prior to implementation in order to explore the efficacy of the research methodology. It was then modified accordingly prior to widespread distribution to potential participants. The surveys were administered to students enrolled in classes taught by the authors all of whom are educators. Participation was voluntary, optional, and anonymous. Over 800 individuals completed the survey with just over 700 usable results, after partial completes and the responses of individuals outside of the 18-24 age range were removed. Findings: Participants in this study overwhelmingly were users of social media. In descending order, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and Tik Tok were the most popular social media services reported as being used. When volume of use was considered, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter were the most cited with most participants reporting using Instagram and Snapchat multiple times a day. When asked to select which social media service they would use if forced to choose just one, the number one choice was YouTube followed by Instagram and Snapchat. Additionally, more than half of participants responded that they have uploaded a video to a video sharing site such as YouTube or Tik Tok. When asked about their familiarity with different technologies, participants overwhelmingly responded that they are “very familiar” with smart phones, searching the Web, social media, and email. About half the respondents said that they were “very familiar” with common computer applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite or Google Suite with another third saying that they were “somewhat familiar.” When asked about Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard, Course Compass, Canvas, Edmodo, Moodle, Course Sites, Google Classroom, Mindtap, Schoology, Absorb, D2L, itslearning, Otus, PowerSchool, or WizIQ, only 43% said they were “very familiar” with 31% responding that they were “somewhat familiar.” Finally, about half the students were either “very” or “somewhat” familiar with operating systems such as Windows. A few preferences with respect to technology in the teaching and learning process were explored in the survey. Most students (85%) responded that they want course announcements and reminders sent to their phones, 76% expect their courses to incorporate the use of technology, 71% want their courses to have course websites, and 71% said that they would rather watch a video than read a book chapter. When asked to consider the future, over 81% or respondents reported that technology will play a major role in their future career. Most participants considered themselves “informed” or “well informed” about current events although few considered themselves “very informed” or “well informed” about politics. When asked how they get their news, the most common forum reported for getting news and information about current events and politics was social media with 81% of respondents reporting. Gen Z is known to be an engaged generation and the participants in this study were not an exception. As such, it came as no surprise to discover that, in the past year more than 78% of respondents had educated friends or family about an important social or political issue, about half (48%) had donated to a cause of importance to them, more than a quarter (26%) had participated in a march or rally, and a quarter (26%) had actively boycotted a product or company. Further, about 37% consider themselves to be a social activist with another 41% responding that aren’t sure if they would consider themselves an activist and only 22% saying that they would not consider themselves an activist. When asked what issues were important to them, the most frequently cited were Black Lives Matter (75%), human trafficking (68%), sexual assault/harassment/Me Too (66.49%), gun violence (65.82%), women’s rights (65.15%), climate change (55.4%), immigration reform/deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) (48.8%), and LGBTQ+ rights (47.39%). When the schools were compared, there were only minor differences in social media use with the high school students indicating slightly more use of Tik Tok than the other participants. All groups were virtually equal when it came to how informed they perceived themselves about current events and politics. Consensus among groups existed with respect to how they get their news, and the community college and high school students were slightly more likely to have participated in a march, protest, or rally in the last 12 months than the university students. The community college and high school students were also slightly more likely to consider themselves social activists than the participants from either of the universities. When the importance of the issues was considered, significant differences based on institutional type were noted. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was identified as important by the largest portion of students attending the HBCU followed by the community college students and high school students. Less than half of the students attending the TWI considered BLM an important issue. Human trafficking was cited as important by a higher percentage of students attending the HBCU and urban high school than at the suburban and rural community college or the TWI. Sexual assault was considered important by the majority of students at all the schools with the percentage a bit smaller from the majority serving institution. About two thirds of the students at the high school, community college, and HBCU considered gun violence important versus about half the students at the majority serving institution. Women’s rights were reported as being important by more of the high school and HBCU participants than the community college or TWI. Climate change was considered important by about half the students at all schools with a slightly smaller portion reporting out the HBCU. Immigration reform/DACA was reported as important by half the high school, community college, and HBCU participants with only a third of the students from the majority serving institution citing it as an important issue. With respect to LGBTQ rights approximately half of the high school and community college participants cited it as important, 44.53% of the HBCU students, and only about a quarter of the students attending the majority serving institution. Contribution and Conclusion: This paper provides a timely investigation into the mindset of generation Z students living in the United States during a period of heightened civic unrest. This insight is useful to educators who should be informed about the generation of students that is currently populating higher education. The findings of this study are consistent with public opinion polls by Pew Research Center. According to the findings, the Gen Z students participating in this study are heavy users of multiple social media, expect technology to be integrated into teaching and learning, anticipate a future career where technology will play an important role, informed about current and political events, use social media as their main source for getting news and information, and fairly engaged in social activism. When institutional type was compared the students from the university with the more affluent and less diverse population were less likely to find social justice issues important than the other groups. Recommendations for Practitioners: During disruptive and contentious times, it is negligent to think that the abounding issues plaguing society are not important to our students. Gauging the issues of importance and levels of civic engagement provides us crucial information towards understanding the attitudes of students. Further, knowing how our students gain information, their social media usage, as well as how informed they are about current events and political issues can be used to more effectively communicate and educate. Recommendations for Researchers: As social media continues to proliferate daily life and become a vital means of news and information gathering, additional studies such as the one presented here are needed. Additionally, in other countries facing similarly turbulent times, measuring student interest, awareness, and engagement is highly informative. Impact on Society: During a highly contentious period replete with a large volume of civil unrest and compounded by a global pandemic, understanding the behaviors and attitudes of students can help us as higher education faculty be more attuned when it comes to the design and delivery of curriculum. Future Research This presentation presents preliminary findings. Data is still being collected and much more extensive statistical analyses will be performed.

Preventing unintended pregnancy among HIV-positive women is an effective approach to reducing pediatric HIV infection and vital to meeting HIV-positive women’s sexual and reproductive health needs. Although contraceptive services for HIV-positive women is one of the cornerstones of a comprehensive program for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), a review of PMTCT programs found that implementers have not prioritized family planning (FP). While there is increasing awareness about the importance of FP and HIV integration, data about FP from PMTCT clients are lacking. The Horizons Program is conducting an operations research study testing several community-based strategies to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in a densely settled urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Strategies being piloted include moving PMTCT services closer to the population via a mobile clinic and increasing psychosocial support for HIV-positive women. This research update presents key findings about FP at PMTCT sites, including the interaction between providers and clients as well as HIV-positive women’s fertility desires and demand for contraceptives, from the baseline cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews with postpartum women.

Since the mid-1970s, the Bangladesh national family planning program primarily focused on motivating women to use modern contraceptive methods and encouraging them to seek services from clinics. In addition, female field workers were recruited to deliver contraceptive methods at homes. The program design facilitated women’s access to information and medical care through clinics and home visits. In the process, however, the medical needs of males were marginalized. Men generally seek services from pharmacies, private practitioners, and district hospitals, and often ignore preventive steps and postpone seeking medical care for chronic health conditions. In cases of acute illness, they often resort to self-medication. As noted in this report, the study’s aim was to integrate male reproductive health services within the existing government female-focused health-care delivery system. The study concluded that reproductive health services for men could easily be integrated into the health and family welfare centers without affecting the clinics’ focus on serving women and children.

This report is the result of a collaborative project between the Population Council and the Centre for Operations Research and Training, conducted as part of a Council program of research on unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Rajasthan, India. Designed as a complement to service-delivery activities being undertaken in Rajasthan by the Indian nongovernmental reproductive health service provider Parivar Seva Sanstha, the program of research aimed to provide a multifaceted picture of the on-the-ground realities related to unwanted pregnancy and abortion in six districts of Rajasthan. Detailed pregnancy histories yielded data on levels of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in the sampled areas in Rajasthan. As noted in this report, the legal right to abortion is not a reality for the majority of women in the sample in Rajasthan. Women have strong desires to meet their reproductive intentions, but existing methods of family planning and abortion services are not meeting their needs. According to the report, public information campaigns to educate women, their spouses, and other family members about the legal right to abortion, as well as efforts to revise the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, are imperative if access to abortion services is to improve.

In 1996, the government of India decided to provide a package of reproductive and child health services through the existing family welfare program, adopting a community needs assessment approach (CNAA). To implement this approach, the government abolished its practice of setting contraceptive targets centrally and introduced a decentralized planning strategy whereby health workers assessed the reproductive health needs of women in their respective areas and prepared local plans to meet those needs. They also involved community leaders to promote community participation in the reproductive and child health program. Since 1998, several evaluation studies have assessed the impact of CNAA on the program’s performance and community participation. These studies showed that the performance of the maternal health-care program improved, whereas the functioning of the family planning program initially declined but later recovered. The approach achieved little in boosting community involvement. This project tested a new model of health committee to help stimulate community participation in reproductive and child health activities at the village level. The experiment, described in this report, was conducted in the Hunsur block of the Mysore District in Karnataka for two years. Researchers evaluated the impact in terms of community involvement and utilization of reproductive and child health services.